NSW DPIRD has released its Draft Harvest Strategy for snapper that would cut the recreational daily bag and possession limit from 10 fish to 3 and introduce a “soft slot” limit that will allow only one fish over 70cm to be taken.
The minimum legal length remains unchanged.
According to NSW DPIRD, recent stock assessment estimates that the NSW component of the East Coast Snapper stock (biologically shared with Queensland) was around 23% of its unfished biomass in 2022. Stock are considered “Sustainable” in NSW, however biomass remains well below historic levels.
Combine statewide catch is around 300 tonnes per year, down from around 1300 tonnes per year in the 1980s.
The Harvest Strategy will lock in a resource-sharing split based on 2013/14–2022/23 data. The share will see commercials receive 55% of the share, while recreational fishos will receive the other 45%.
Have your say! The Draft Harvest Strategy is open for submissions until 18 October, 2026.
